Suicidal Marilyn Monroe letter to auction in New York

A Marilyn Monroe-authored letter, detailing the actress' suicidal thoughts, is valued at $50,000

A letter, handwritten by Marilyn Monroe on Hotel Bel-Air stationary, is expected to achieve up to $50,000 when it goes under the hammer on May 30.

The undated letter, addressed to Monroe's acting coach Lee Strasberg, details the star's deepening depression, which would lead to her taking her own life in 1962.

Monroe in her final completed film, The Misfits (1961)

Monroe writes: "I'm embarrassed to start this, but thank you for understanding and having changed my life. Even though you changed it I am still lost. I mean I can't get myself together. You once said the first time I heard you talk at the actors studio that there is only concentration between the actor and suicide [sic].

"My will is weak but I can't stand anything. I sound crazy but I think I'm going crazy.

"It's just that I get before the camera and my concentration and everything I'm trying to learn leaves me. Then I feel like I'm not existing in the human race at all."

The soul-searching missive, offered from an anonymous American collection, is believed to date from shortly before the actress' death. It is to sell as part of an online auction overseen by American auction house Profiles in History.